Tack-supplying mechanism.



R. F. McFEELY.

TACK SUPPLYING MECHANISM. APPLICATION nuzn R E 8.12. 1914.

I 1,159,491 Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

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VV/TA/ESSES uoLUMBlA PLANOGRAPH CD-IWASHINGTO UNTTED @TATES PATENT @FFTQE.

RONALD F. MQFEELY,

OF BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIG-NOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

Application filed February 12, 1914.

To all whom it mag concern:

Be it known that I, RONALD F. MGFEELY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beverly, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain Improvements in Tack-Supplying Mechanisms, of which the following description, in con nection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures. This invention relates to tack supplying mechanism and particularly to means for maintaining a flow of tacks in a raceway. It has heretofore been proposed to clear obstructing tacks from the throat or covered portion of an inclined raceway by a rotary carrier in which were slidingly mounted a plurality of clearer plates that were moved at: und the axis of the carrier and successively brought into wiping contact with the raceway, as described and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 1,107.337, granted August 18, 1914 on my application, filed May 15, 1912; T have discovered that a more compact and silently operating mechanism can be produced for effecting the tack clearing function by utilizing a single clearer plate in place of the plurality of plates heretofore used for each raceway. This result is obtained by giving the clearer plate a movement in an elliptical path having its long axis substantially parallel with the raceway. One satisfactory construction for embodying this invention comprises a clearer plate-connected in proper relation to' an eccentric which will advance the plate up the raceway to perform its tack clearing function, then lift the plate to let the tacks slide by gravity down to the throat and under the covered portion of the raceway and return the plate to starting position in a path high enough above the raceway to be out of contact with. the tacks that have moved down under it. It is important to lift the clearer high enough so that the tacks can flow down freely and loosely because it is found that in this way they are most certain to enter under the raceway cover without clogging. It is also important to avoid dragging the plate back over the tacks because the engagement of the clearer with the tacks while it is moving down tends to jam the tacks into the throat.

The invention will now be described in Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 191.5. Serial No. 818,376.

connection with the accompanying drawings and then pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 shows in side elevation and sec tion the clearer mechanism and a portion of the raceway. Fig. 2 shows the clearer oper ating mechanism. Figs. 3 and 4 show respectively a side elevation and a plan View of the tack supplying mechanism in which the illustrated embodiment of the present invention is employed.

The inclined raceway 2 has a cover 4 terminating below the upper end of the raceway and the front end face of which is concaved to guide the clearer 5 in a suitable path into contact with the tacks at the throat or entrance to the covered portion of the raceway.

The clearer is mounted in a guideway formed in the holder 6 and inclined downwardly toward the raceway at an acute angle. The clearer slides by gravity toward the raceway, and a spring may be added if needed, but can yield upwardly in the holder if it encounters an obstruction which it cannot overcome.

The holder 6 is mounted on an eccentric 8 and has an upwardly extending arm in which is a slot engaged by a fixed guide pin 10. The pin and slot cooperating with the eccentric give to the clearer an approximately elliptical path having its longer axis substantially parallel with the raceway, the path being preferably slightly modified from a perfect ellipse by comparatively sharp upward and downward movements at the ends of its long sides, so that the point of the clearer follows substantially the path indicated therefor in Fig; 1. The eccentric may, of course. be rotated by any suitable mechanism. Herein provision is made for replacing the rotary clearer mechanism of said prior application with this clearer mechanism with a minimum of change in the tack supplying mechanism of the mamovement is produced by a return spring 26. lhis driving connection for the shaft 15 is in general use and is fully described in the prior application. The gearing provides for a full rotation of the eccentric 8 for each oscillatory movement forwardly or backwardly of the hopper.

Having explained the nature of the invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the .United States 1. A tack .supplying mechanism having, in combination, an inclined raceway, a cover terminating below the upper end of the raceway, and means for clearing tacks from the throat or entrance to the covered portion of the raceway, said means comprising an eccentric, and a clearer suitably guided and connected with the eccentric to receive therefrom a movement in substantially an elliptical path the longer axis of which is substantially parallel with'the inclined raceway and the shorter axis of which is of a length to hold the clearer out of contact with the tacks during its movement down the raceway.

2. A tack supplying mechanism having, in combination, an inclined raceway, a cover terminating below the upper end of the raceway, and means for clearing tacks from the throat or entrance to the covered portion of the raceway comprising a clearer plate and operating means to move the plate in a substantially elliptical path first up the raceway in sliding contact therewith to move tacks away from the throat, then to lift the clearer whereby the tacks canfiow down the raceway under it and then to return the clearer to starting position along a path slightly above but out of touch with the tacks which iave moved downwardly under it.

8. A tack supplying mechanism having, in combination, an inclined raceway, a cover terminating below the upper end of the raceway, means for clearing tacks from the throat or entrance to the covered portion of the raceway, said means comprising an eccentric, a plate carrier connected with the eccentric to be reciprocatecl thereby and to be lifted and lowered at the ends of the reciprocatory strokes, and a clearer plate mounted in the carrier in position to be moved up the raceway in sliding contact therewith and to be returned to starting po sition along a path out of contact with the tacks.

l. A tack supplying mechanism having, in combination, an inclined raceway, a cover terminating below the upper end of the raceway, and means for clearing tacks from the throat or entrance to the covered portion of the raceway comprising a clearer, a clearer holder, an eccentric and a holder guide all constructed and arranged to im- 7 clearer holder in which the clearer is mounted over the raceway in position to engage it near the throat and move upwardly topush the tacks away from the throat, said clearer being arranged to yield endwise' in its holder, and means to impart to the clearer through the holder a movement in a sub stantially elliptical path by which it is returned to starting position out of contact with the tacks.

6. A tack supplying mechanism having, in combination, an inclined racewa a cover terminating below the upper end of the raceway,and means for clearing tacks from the throat or entrance to the covered portion of the raceway comprising a clearer, a carrier, an eccentric on which the carrier is mounted, and pin and slot guiding means by which and the eccentric the carrier is caused to advance the clearer up the race way, sharply lift it, retract it and again lower it into engagement with the raceway at the throat.

In testimony whereof I' have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. F

RONALD F. MoFEELY.

Witnesses:

NORMAN G. HUssnY, Emma 13. Gnusn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, D. C. 

